Removable drain pan for refrigerators



Sept. 18, 1928. 1,684,558

E. P. SCHWARZ REMOVABLE DRAIN PLAN FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed 601;. 14, 1926' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 anon H501 Eml'l P chwarz Sept. 18, 192%. 1,684,558 E. P. SCHWARZ REMOVABLE DRAIN PAN FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed Oct. 14, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FY94 I Emil P. 5'L'h warz Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,684,558 PATENT OFFICE EMIL P. SCHWARZ, OF ST. PAUL, 'MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR T SEEGER REFRIGERATOR COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

REMOVABLE DRAIN PAN FOR REFRIGERATORS.

Application filed October 14,1926. Serial No. 141,629.

My invention relates to removable drain pans, the particular object of which is to provide a pan associated with a refrigerator unit so that the pan will receive any condensation 5,0r moisture when the refrigerator unit is defrigerated so that the frost on the refrigerator unit will when melted run into the drain pan and the pan may be easily removed.

A feature of my invention resides in a means for supporting the refrigerating unit and drain pan directly from the, ceiling or lining of the refrigerator and to provide a drip pan which will permit the same to be readily emptied of any liquid which has drained from the refrigerator unit into the same.

It is a feature of my'invention to provide a means for receiving the condensed moisture from the refrigerator unit in a manner so that it will not drip on to the food or into the provision compartment and to permit a simple construction for the refrigerator so that the parts may be readily removed to permit the cleaning of the lining and the refrigerating parts very easily.

My invention includes a particular hanger having a loop designed to cause any condensation or dripping from the connection to run into the moisture pan and also to provide a means of supporting the pan of a material not easily conductive of heat or cold, thereby preventing frost from the refrigerating unit being deposited on the same.

I include in my invention means for holding the removable drain pan in a very simple manner, including means for holding the pan freely slidable out from under the refrigerating unit. This holding means may consist in a bracket member having a shoulder extending in a manner to slidably engage the sides of the pan so that the pan may be drawn out from under the refrigerator unit very easily and without spilling the contents of v the same. The bracket member may also be removable from the refrigerating unit thus permitting the cleaning ofthe refrigerating unit when it is desired. a

It is important in my invention that the principles and structure .of the same be apparent, considering that" a large number of refrigerators are now equipped with mechanical refrigerating units which when in use in the refrigerator become covered with the frost or ice and when these units are defrigerated, this frozen moisture condenses into liquid and runs off of the same. My invention provides a simple eflective means of collecting the same yet leaving the parts to be thoroughly cleansed being easily removable.

These features together with other details of my invention will be more fully and clear- 1y specified 1n the following description and claims.

In the drawings forming part of this spec fication,

F1gure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator unit of a very well known type showmg my lnvention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatical front view of the refrigerator showing the front portlons removed to illustrate my invention attached to the refrigerator unit.

Flgure 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of my invention.

I Flgure 4 is a perspective view of a diagrammatical showing of a refrigerator to illustrate a different form of supporting the refrigerating unit.

Figure 5 1s a sectional view through one of the supporting brackets illustrating a portion of the drain pan associated therewith.

In the drawings I have illustrated a mechamcal refrigerating unit A which is adapted to be supported between rods 10 to the linmg 11 of the refrigerator at the ceiling 12. This is important in my invention as it br ngs forth the fact that the refrigerating umt together with associated parts of my invention hang entirely from the ceiling, of the refrigerator and being entirely free of the side walls so that they are not only easily removed but the lining can be cleaned about a the parts very readily. In the refrigerator B lllustrated in Figure 2, I have shown a bafile wall C which is also removable and of a construction to direct the flow of air properly in relatlon to the refrigerator unit. I desire to point out that this battle wall is not necessary in the refrigerator as I have not illuslow the lower end 18 of the arm so that any condensation running down the body of the refrigerating unit A and which is collected on the bracket arms 14, will be caused to run down the drip loop 17 and prevented from falling to the end of the arm 18. The ends 18 of the arms 14'are adapted to support an angle member 19 which forms a shoulder for slidably engaging the edge 20 of the drain pan 22.

One or more bracket arms may be employed on each side of the refrigerating unit A to support the shoulder member 19 and the brackets 'are adapt-ed to hold the shoulder members so that the drain pan 22 may be readily slid from under the refrigerating unit A or slid back under the same after it has been emptied.

In this manner I provide a removable drain pan 22 with removable supporting means which can be readily removed so that the refrigerating unit A can be thoroughly cleansed when it is desired. The advantage of the removable drain pan 22 is quite obvious as it permits the condensed moisture or ice from the unit A to be collected into the drip an 22 while the drip loops 17 keep any liqui from falling down the bracket arm 14 so as to drip outside of the drip pan 22.

The arms 14 may be of any suitable construction and of such a material as to prevent the frost from being directly transmitted to the supporting shelf or shoulder 19. The arms ma be made of such a material as to be non-con uctive of heat or cold. This is important in my invention. It is also apparent that my drain pan 22 can be enameled and all of the parts made in a very neat'and tidy manner so that they will be presentable in any refrigerator.

The drain pan 22 not only provides a removable means of collecting moisture from the unit Ailiut also serves as a receptacle for holding articles directly below the refrigerating unit when it is not being used as a drip pan. In my illustrations Figure 4, I have shown a different form of holding means for the refrigerator unit A and the unit itself is of a different, construction than that illus trated in Figure 1. This refrigerating unit A is supported by the strapmembers 25 which are in the form of loops extending down from the refrigerating ceiling 12 across and below the same. In this supporting means the strap members 25 are in one piece but practically U shaped and fitted closely to the sides of the refrigerating unit.

In this construction I show the bracket arms 26 which are similar to the bracket arms 14 secured at 27 to the strap members 25, having the depending drip loop 17 so that moisture draining down from theunit A will follow theloop 17 and drain into the .pan 22.

The ends 18 of'these arms support the shoull der or shelf member 19 similarly as the arms 14. The flan e 20 of the drain pan 22 rests freelyon the ower flange of the member 19.

In Figure 5, I have illustrated the lower flange 28 of the member 19 of a curved or hooked nature While the pan flange 20 is fitted with a head or rim which engages in the same so as to hold the pan 22 against free side movement, thus holding the same below unit A in a manner to collect all of the moisture draining from the same.

The outer lower end of the arms 14 and 26 extend slightly outward from the sides of the unit A so that the pan 22 may extend far enough on each side of the unit so as to collect all of the moisture draining from the refrigerating unit when it is defrigerated. The simplicity of my invention is apparent, yet it is very important as it is quite desirable to have a means of collecting the moisture below the refrigeratin unit and these collectors must be removable so they can be readily emptied out and the parts disassembled if'necessary so that the entire refrigerator can be thoroughly cleansed at'any time. My removable pan provides not only a drain pan but a holding means which may be taken out readily and thus articles can be placed therein when the same is used for a drain pan which it is desired to keeplvery cold owing to the close proximity of t e pan to the unit. It is evident that the holding means for the pan can be so constructed to permit draining of the moisture outside of the pan and also that these parts may be removed very readily.

frigerator but is hun directly from the ceiling with the unit A t us leaving the sides of the lining of the refrigerator clear and free to be readily cleaned even without removing the drain pan or connecting parts.

' In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the rinciples of operation of my invention and w ile the illustrations show a certain design and construction or formation I desire to have it understood that this 'is only illustrative as ameans of carrying out my invention and may be applied to other uses and carried out by other means without departing from the spirit of my invention, within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A removable drain pan for refrigerating units and means for holding said pan slidably below and directly by a refrigerating unit. I

2. A removable drain pan for refrigerators in combination witha refrigerating unit and means for supporting said pan slidably and directly below a refrigerating unit and spaced away from the inner parts and side walls of the refrigerator.

3. A moisture receiving pan for refrigerators, means for supporting said pan removable, said means including a hanger member having a drip loop formed in a manner to cause any moisture draining down said hanger member to be dripped off into said drain pan.

4. A moisture collector for refrigerators, means for supporting said collector slidably removable in close proximity to refrigerating means within the refrigerator, spaced from the sides of the refrigerator and supported from the ceiling thereof.

frigerator through a refrigerating unit and Epsit-ioned in close proximity and directly low the refrigerating means of the refrigerator.

7. A removable refrigerator moisture collector and means for slidably supporting the same directly to a refrigerating unit.

8. A removable drain pan for refrigerating units and means for holding said pan slidably by and below a refrigerating unit.

9. A removable drain pan for refrigerating units and means for holding said pan slidably removable below and by a refrigerating unit, said holding means including a drip loop for draining from said supporting means any moisture to the drain pan.

EMIL P. SCHWARZ. 

